JP2848512B2 - Vehicle meter device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a meter device for a vehicle, which is disposed on an instrument panel of a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to, for example, a case where an engine is turned on and a meter display is made visible only when a display is required. The present invention relates to a vehicle meter device generally called a black face meter, in which nothing can be seen at normal times when an engine is not running.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of meter device, one having a configuration as shown in FIG. 7 has been proposed. In the figure, a movement 3 for rotating and driving a pointer 2 by an angle corresponding to a measured amount is accommodated in a meter case 1,
Between the hands 2 and the movement 3, a dial 4 for displaying the measured amount in cooperation with the hands 2 is provided. In the opening 1a of the meter case 1, a mask member 5, which is generally referred to as a facing, for masking the peripheral portion of the meter case 1 and an unnecessary portion of the dial 4 is arranged. It is covered with a front member 6 that protects the dial 4 and prevents dust from entering.

The pointer 2 is formed of, for example, a transparent translucent material, and is configured so that light from the light source 7 is introduced into the base 2a and reflected toward the indicator 2b so that the entire indicator shines. You. The dial 4 is formed by printing characters on a translucent substrate, and transmits light from the light source 8 to the dial 4.
By irradiating the back surface of the device, the light is transmitted, and the characters and the scales are configured to shine. The front member 6 includes a light source 7
When and are not illuminated, the characters and scales on the hands 2 and the dial 4 are not visible through the front member 6 so that
For example, it is formed of a light-transmitting material called a smoke material having a low transmittance of about 20%.

On the other hand, the front members of the light sources 7 and 8 are made of a transparent material so that the characters and the scales of the hands 2 and the dial 4 can be clearly seen during the day through the front member 6 having a low transmittance at the time of lighting. Approximately 2
A cold cathode tube for dial illumination and a high-brightness LED for pointer illumination that can secure about 00 times (1200 cd / m ² ) brightness
Are used.

[0005] In order to avoid using the special light source as described above, it has been considered that the front member is constituted by a liquid crystal shutter made of a liquid crystal device.

[0006]

However, in the former meter, both the cold-cathode tube and the high-brightness LED are expensive, and a device that requires a dedicated circuit for lighting and driving must be used. There was a problem of inviting.

In addition, the latter meter requires a complicated circuit for generating and controlling an AC voltage for driving the liquid crystal shutter, which is costly. In addition, it is technically necessary to provide a curved surface to the front member. There is also the problem of difficulty.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, so that a meter display for a vehicle can be constructed such that nothing can be seen at all times, and a meter display can be seen only when necessary, so that a black face meter can be constructed at low cost. It is intended to provide.

Further, in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides an inexpensive vehicular meter which can be invisible at all times and can be displayed only when the engine is turned on, so that the black face meter can be inexpensively constructed. It is intended to provide a device.

In addition, in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention does not always show anything through the front member of the meter display unit, and turns on the ignition switch [accessory (A
The present invention provides a vehicle meter device in which the meter display is made visible only when (CC) position is on) and a black face meter capable of easily attaching a curved surface to the front member can be constructed at low cost. It is intended to be.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, a vehicle meter device according to the present invention has a meter display section A when an ignition switch 21 is off as shown in a basic configuration diagram of FIG. Is invisible through the front member 6 disposed on the front surface of the meter display unit, and when the ignition switch is turned on, the meter display unit is visible through the front member. An electrochromic element 6a that is colored by applying a voltage in one direction to decrease the transmittance and becomes transparent by applying a voltage in the opposite direction and has a large transmittance.
And a voltage switching means 22 for applying the voltage in the one direction when the ignition switch is off and applying the voltage in the reverse direction when the ignition switch is on.

The voltage switching means 22 is switched in conjunction with the turning on and off of the ignition switch 21 to invert the voltage applied to the electrochromic element 6a.

[0013] Table member 6 is the electrochromic device 6a transparent substrate 6b sandwiching from both sides, has 6c, the electrochromic device 6a electrochromic layer 6a ₁ and the electrochromic layer 6a ₃ sandwiched thereto The transparent electrode films 6a ₂ and 6a for applying the voltage
₃

Further, the vehicle meter device further comprises voltage adjusting means VR for varying the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrochromic element 6a via the voltage switching means 22.

[0015]

In the above construction, the front member 6 having the electrochromic element 6a on the front surface of the meter display section A is provided so that the meter display section A is invisible at normal times and the display is visible when the ignition switch is turned on. At the same time, the voltage switching means 22 applies a voltage in one direction to the electrochromic element 6a to color the electrochromic element 6a when the ignition switch is turned off by the voltage switching means 22, and conversely, the ignition switch is turned off. In order to make the display of the meter display section A visible when turned on, a voltage in the opposite direction is applied to the electrochromic element 6a to make the electrochromic element 6a transparent.

Therefore, when the meter display is required, the electrochromic element 6a is in a transparent state and has a good transmittance.
Can be clearly seen, and when the ignition switch is off when the meter display is not required, the electrochromic element 6a is colored and the transmittance is reduced. The part A can be made invisible.

Further, the voltage switching means 22 inverts the voltage applied to the electrochromic element 6a in conjunction with the turning on / off of the ignition switch 21, so that a necessary display can be seen when the ignition switch is turned on. When the switch is off, no display is visible through the front member 6.

The front member 6 is made of an electrochromic layer 6a.
Electrochromic device 6a transparent substrate 6b from both sides formed by interposing a ₁ transparent electrode film 6a _2, 6a _3, 6c
And the electrochromic layer 6a
_{Since the first} member can be freely formed into a curved surface, the surface member can be easily formed into a curved surface.

Since the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrochromic element 6a via the voltage switching means 22 can be changed by the voltage adjusting means VR, the transmittance of the electrochromic element 6a is adjusted to a desired value. be able to.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a vehicle meter device according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 show one embodiment of a vehicle meter device according to the present invention configured as a combination meter, FIG. 2 is a perspective view, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, in which parts equivalent to those described above with reference to FIG.

The light guide plate 1 made of a transparent material is provided between the movement 3 and the dial 4 accommodated in the meter case 1.
In the peripheral portion of the light guide plate 10, there is formed a light introducing end 10 a for introducing light from a light source 11 composed of an incandescent lamp attached to the bottom of the meter case 1. The light guide plate 10 is fixed to the movement 3 together with the dial 4 to form a unit. The pointer-type or analog meter unit including the hands 2, the movement 3, the dial 4 and the light guide plate 10 is fixed to the bottom of the meter case 1, and together with the light source 11 similarly fixed to the bottom of the meter case 1, the analog meter The display unit A is configured.
The light guide plate 10 guides the introduced light to the rear surface of the dial 4 and the insertion hole 10b of the pointer shaft 3a having the pointer 2 attached to the upper end thereof.
The light is emitted to the back of the dial 4 and is reflected upward along the pointer shaft 3a by the reflecting surface 10c formed in the insertion hole 10b.

In the above embodiment, the meter display unit A
Are the hands 2, the movement 3, the dial 4, and the light guide plate 10.
Is a pointer type, ie, an analog type meter unit, and a light source 11 which is turned on by a lighting switch, and is an analog type meter display portion for displaying a meter by light from the light source 11 at night. For example, a digital meter display unit configured by a numerical display, a bar display, or the like may be used.

The light radiated on the back of the dial 10 passes through the characters and scales of the dial 4 on which the character is printed, and reaches the surface of the dial 4 to shine the characters and the scale. The light reflected upward along the pointer shaft 3a is transmitted to the base 2a of the pointer 2
The light is received by the light receiving surface of the pointer, is introduced into the pointer, is reflected by a reflection surface (not shown) formed on the pointer base 2a, and is directed to the pointer 2b, thereby illuminating the entire pointer. The mask member (return) 5 disposed in the opening 1 a of the meter case 1 is provided between the peripheral portion of the meter case 1 and the dial 4.
Are masked, and an electrochromic element (hereinafter abbreviated as an EC element) 6 is provided in the opening of the mask member 5.
A front member 6 having a structure in which a is sandwiched between glass substrates 6b and 6c as a transparent substrate is disposed. The glass substrate can be replaced with a transparent substrate made of a transparent resin material.

The EC element 6a is electrochromic layer is a solid (hereinafter, abbreviated as EC layer) 6a ₁ to, ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₃ to form an ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₂ and the upper electrodes forming the lower electrode Thus, it is configured to be sandwiched from both sides.

It should be noted, the details of a portion of the table member 6 will be described with reference to partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 4, the lower edge of the glass substrate 6b is an ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₂ of electrically lower edge metal film 6d to be connected, the metal film 6e on the upper edge being connected on the edge and electrically ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₃ of the glass substrate 6c is formed by plating, respectively. The metal film 6d and 6e are for example Ag film and a laminated film of an Au film, these include ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₂ and 6a
₃ Flexible printed circuit (FP
C) Terminal 6 for soldering lead wire 12 consisting of
f and 6g are respectively provided by soldering, for example.

The front member 6 arranged at the opening of the mask member 5
Is held by a resin clip-shaped binder 13 at a plurality of locations as shown in a perspective view of FIG. The binder 13 sandwiches the ribs 5 a and 5 b protruding from the upper and lower opening edges of the mask member 5, the surface of the front member 6 and the upper and lower edges by its elasticity, and holds the peripheral edge of the back surface of the front member 6 to the mask member 5. Elastic contact with the open end face of

The glass substrates 6b and 6c and the EC element 6
The above-mentioned front member constituted by a is curved in the vertical direction, and is manufactured, for example, as follows.
First, a metal film 6d is plated on the lower edge of one glass substrate 6b curved in the vertical direction into a desired shape, and is partially overlapped with the metal film 6d to form an ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₂ , EC on the glass substrate 6b. layers 6a ₁ and the ITO transparent electrode film 6
a ₃ is sequentially laminated, and finally, the other glass substrate 6c curved with the same curvature as the glass substrate 6b is bonded. Note that the bending of the front member 6 can be performed not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction.

The EC element 6a is preferably in a transparent state with a high transmittance.
Constant, and the ITO transparent electrode film 6a as the upper electrode_TwoNegative
When an external voltage is applied, the following reaction occurs,
WO _ThreeIs blue H_xWO_ThreeAs a result, the transmittance decreases. WO_Three+ H⁺+ Xe^-→ H_xWO_Three

Protons and electrons, which are coloring ions, are supplied from an external power supply by application of a voltage, and tungsten oxide forms tungsten bronze by a reduction reaction to turn blue. When the voltage application circuit is opened except for the applied voltage, the EC element 6a attempts to return to a stable and transparent state, but the colored state is maintained because there is no electron passage. This is advantageous in terms of power consumption because a low transmittance state can be maintained even when a voltage is not always applied. When the voltage is reversed to apply the decolored state, the state returns to the original transparent stable state. Further, the transmittance can be changed in the range of 20 to 70% depending on the polarity and magnitude of the applied voltage.

FIG. 5 shows an electric circuit for switching the voltage applied to the EC element 6a in conjunction with the ignition switch. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes an ignition switch which is turned on when the engine is started, one end of which is not shown. For example, a movement 3 of a meter device which is connected to a battery and requires power supply at the other end.
The light source 11 is connected to various parts of the vehicle. A resistor R is connected between one end of the ignition switch 21 and the ground.
And a series circuit of a Zener diode D which is a constant voltage element for generating a constant voltage of 1.5 V, for example, and a variable resistor VR as a voltage adjusting means is connected in parallel with the Zener diode D.

Numeral 22 designates two changeover switches 22a and 22 which are switched in conjunction with the ignition switch 21.
b, and two changeover switches 2
The movable contacts 2a and 22b are configured such that the movable contact c is switched to the fixed contact a when the ignition switch 21 is off, and is switched to the fixed contact b when the ignition switch 21 is on. The ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₃ fixed contact b of the fixed contact a and the change-over switch 22b of the change-over switch 22a is to form the lower electrode of the EC element 6a, fixed contact a fixed contact b and the change-over switch 22b of the change-over switch 22a is EC They are respectively connected to the ITO transparent electrode film 6a ₂ for forming the upper electrode of the element 6a.

In the above configuration, when the ignition switch 21 is off, the changeover switches 22a and 22b
There is in fixed contact a side as shown, EC layer 6a ₁ of the electrode film 6a ₃ side positive voltage is sandwiched between applied electrode film 6a ₃ and 6a ₂ are colored. In contrast the ignition switch 21 is (are used in ACC including means.) Turned on when the is between the electrode films 6a ₂ is positive voltage is applied to the applied voltage is inverted side electrode film 6a ₃ and 6a ₂ to transmittance increases sandwiched EC layer 6a ₁ is in a transparent state. Therefore, the double throw switch 22 shown in FIG. 5 is a voltage switching means for applying a voltage in one direction to the EC element 6a when the ignition switch is off and applying a voltage in the opposite direction to the EC element 6a when the ignition switch is on. Working as.

The voltage applied to the EC element 6a is adjusted by varying the variable resistor VR,
Is moved between both ends, so that 1.5 to 0
It is adjusted in the range of V. The relationship between the on / off state of the ignition switch 21 and the switching state of the double throw switch 22 and the transmittance of the EC element 6a is shown in the case where the applied voltage is 1.5 V and 1.0 V. It becomes as shown in.

[Table 1]

[Table 2]

[0034] As can be seen from Table 1 and 2, while a constant 20% almost regardless of the transmittance applied voltage EC layer 6a ₁ when the ignition switch 21 is turned off, the ignition switch 21 is turned on the transmittance of the, is variable by a voltage applied to the electrode film 6a ₃ and 6a ₂ is adjusted by the variable resistor VR by the user depending on the brightness around, when the maximum voltage 1.5V 7
0% and 50% at 1.0V.

In the above-described embodiment, by using an EC element for the front member 6 and inverting the voltage applied to the EC element in reverse and forward in conjunction with the ignition switch, before turning on the ignition switch (before starting the engine), Since the transmittance of the front member 6 is reduced to about 20%, the inside cannot be seen through the front member 6, so that the meter can be made into a black face. After the ignition switch is turned on (after the engine is started), the internal display can be viewed through the front member 6 in which the transmittance of the front member 6 is changed from 20% to 70% at the same time as when the ignition switch is turned on. Meter display can be performed.

In the embodiment, the transmittance can be freely changed by adjusting the variable resistor VR to change the voltage applied to the EC element. When the driver perceives that the brightness is bright, the transmittance can be changed from 70% to, for example, 50% to obtain a display with good visibility. Moreover, since this can be easily performed by adjusting the DC voltage, a complicated circuit is not required.

In the above-described embodiment, the voltage applied to the EC element can be adjusted by a manual operation. However, for example, the ambient brightness is detected by a photoelectric element.
The magnitude of the applied voltage is automatically adjusted according to the detected ambient brightness.
It is possible to increase the transmittance of the device and to reduce the transmittance of the EC device when the surroundings are dark, such as at night.

In addition to changing the transmittance of the front member 6, the brightness of the meter display unit itself can be changed according to the surrounding brightness or by manual operation. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram in which a circuit for lighting the light source 11 and the like for meter illumination shown in FIG. 3 is added to the circuit of FIG. 5, and shows a light emitting display type meter that lights up and emits light day and night. In the figure,
Reference numeral 31 denotes a switch that is turned on in conjunction with a lighting switch that is turned on when the surroundings become dark, such as at night or when entering a tunnel. Reference numeral 32 denotes a dimming circuit and a night dimming circuit. When the ignition switch 21 is turned on and the surroundings are darkened and the lighting switch is turned on when the lighting switch is turned on, the switch 31 is turned on. In accordance with the switch 31 being turned on, the dimming circuit and the night light dimming circuit 32 are connected to the light source 11 and the like. The lighting current of the light source 11 is reduced by reducing the flowing current. The resistance of the light control circuit and the night light control circuit 32 can be changed by operating a manual light control knob (not shown) to adjust the lighting brightness of the light source 11.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 5, the current always flows from the battery to the ground through the resistor R and the parallel circuit of the Zener diode D and the variable resistor VR. The voltage supply from the battery is performed via the timer circuit 33 as shown in FIG. 6, and when the ignition switch 21 is not turned on and the engine is not turned on, the voltage supply from the battery may not be performed for a certain period of time. it can.

The timer circuit 33 includes a relay 33a, a transistor TR, and a time constant circuit consisting of resistor R ₁ to R ₃ and a capacitor C _1. In the timer circuit 33, the diode D ₁ when the ignition switch 21 is turned on, the capacitor C ₁ via the resistor R ₁ is charged,
As a result, the transistor TR is turned on, a current flows from the battery to the ground via the relay coil L and the transistor TR, the relay contact CT is turned on, and battery power is supplied to one end of the resistor R via the relay contact CT. This state is maintained until the ignition switch 21 is turned off, and a voltage is applied to the fixed contact b side. When the ignition switch 21 is turned off, the movable contact c of the changeover switch 22 is switched from the fixed contact b to the fixed contact a, and the electric charge charged in the capacitor C ₁ is C ₁ · (R ₂ + R
Since a time constant of ₃₎ to discharge through the resistor R ₂ and R _3, the transistor TR is turned off after the turn on for a predetermined time of, for example, about 6 seconds off the ignition switch 21.

Therefore, a reverse voltage is applied to the EC element 6a for a certain period of time via the changeover switch 22 which is switched in conjunction with the ignition switch 21, and when the transistor TR is turned off, the relay contact CT is also turned off and the battery is turned off. Is no longer supplied. Incidentally, D ₂ in order to maintain even gone voltage supply reverse voltage application state to the EC device 6a, a diode as unidirectional elements provided for opening the voltage application circuit of EC elements 6a.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the illumination light source of the meter display section is turned on when the ignition switch is turned on. Since the meter display unit can be visually recognized by the incident light, the illumination light source may be turned on only when the surroundings are dark such as at night.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, a front member having an electrochromic element is arranged on the front surface of the meter display section, and the electrochromic element is normally operated when the ignition switch is off by the voltage switching means. Applying a voltage in one direction to the element to color the electrochromic element and turning on the ignition switch to make the display on the meter display part visible Because it is made to be transparent,
So that the display of the meter display section is normally invisible,
When the ignition switch is turned on, a black face meter that can make the display on the meter display unit visible can be obtained.

When a meter display is required, the electrochromic element is in a transparent state and has a good transmittance, so that the display on the meter display section can be clearly seen and a light source of high luminance is used. Not only is it unnecessary, but when the ignition switch is off, by switching the applied voltage, the electrochromic element is colored and the transmittance is reduced, and the meter display unit can be made invisible through the front member, It can be realized at low cost without using a complicated circuit.

Further, the voltage is switched in conjunction with the turning on / off of the ignition switch, and the voltage switching means reverses the voltage applied to the electrochromic element. Therefore, when the engine is started, a necessary display can be seen.
When the engine is not running, no display can be seen through the front member, and a black face meter can be obtained in which the meter display can be seen only when the engine is started.

Further, the front member has a structure in which an electrochromic element in which a solid electrochromic layer is sandwiched between transparent electrode films is sandwiched between transparent substrates from both sides, so that the electrochromic layer can be freely formed on a curved surface. Therefore, a black face meter having a curved surface member can be obtained at low cost.

In addition, the transmittance can be adjusted to a desired value by adjusting the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrochromic element. For example, the transmittance is increased during daytime when the surroundings are bright, and the surroundings are dark. At night, the ambient brightness and the display brightness desired by the user can be easily obtained by lowering the transmittance or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a vehicle meter device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a vehicle meter device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a vehicle meter device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit for switching an applied voltage used in an embodiment of the vehicle meter device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a modification of a part of the circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional meter device.

[Explanation of symbols]

A meter display unit 6 Table members 6a electrochromic device 6a ₁ electrochromic layer 6a _2, 6a ₃ transparent electrode film 6b, 6c transparent substrate (glass substrate) 21 ignition switch 22 voltage switching means (double-throw switch) VR voltage regulator ( Variable resistor)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-266536 (JP, A) JP-A-61-193925 (JP, A) JP-A-52-49540 (JP, A) 57731 (JP, U) Actually open 1988-122230 (JP, U) Actually open 1979-19420 (JP, U) Actually open, 50-144645 (JP, U) Actually open, 2-41849 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60K 35/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. When the ignition switch is turned off,
In a vehicle meter device, the meter display unit A is made invisible through the front member 6 disposed on the front surface of the meter display unit, and when the ignition switch is turned on, the meter display unit is made visible through the front member. The front member 6 includes an electrochromic element 6a which is colored by applying a voltage in one direction to reduce the transmittance and becomes transparent by applying a voltage in the opposite direction to a transparent state. A meter device for a vehicle, comprising: voltage switching means 22 for applying a voltage in a direction and applying the voltage in the reverse direction when an ignition switch is turned on. 2. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage switching means is switched in conjunction with turning on and off an ignition switch to invert a voltage applied to said electrochromic element. . Wherein the table member 6 is the electrochromic device 6a transparent substrate 6b sandwiching from both sides, has 6c, the electrochromic device 6a electrochromic layer 6a ₁ and the electrochromic layer 6a ₃ sandwiched thereto vehicle meter device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the formed of a transparent electrode film 6a _2, 6a ₃ Prefecture of applying the voltage. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage adjusting means VR for changing a magnitude of a voltage applied to said electrochromic element 6a via said voltage switching means 22. Meter device for vehicles.